In a potentially game-changing moment for college athletics, the Chicago district of the National Labor Relations Board ruled on Wednesday that Northwestern football players qualify as employees of the university and can unionize.

NLRB regional director Peter Sung Ohr cited the players' time commitment to their sport and the fact that their scholarships were tied directly to their performance on the field as reasons for granting them union rights.

Ohr wrote in his ruling that the players "fall squarely within the [National Labor Relations] Act's broad definition of 'employee' when one considers the common law definition of 'employee.'"

Ohr ruled that the players can hold a vote on whether they want to be represented by the College Athletes Players Association, which brought the case to the NLRB along with former Wildcats quarterback Kain Colter and the United Steelworkers union.

"The NCAA invented the term student-athlete to prevent the exact ruling that was made today. For 60 years, people have bought into the notion that they are students only. The reality is players are employees, and today's ruling confirms that. The players are one giant step closer to justice."

Northwestern issued a statement shortly after the ruling saying it would appeal to the full NLRB in

Washington, D.C.

"While we respect the NLRB process and the regional director's opinion, we disagree with it," the statement read. "Northwestern believes strongly that our student-athletes are not employees, but students. Unionization and collective bargaining are not the appropriate methods to address the concerns raised by student-athletes."

The Big Ten also disagreed with the ruling and released a statement that read: "While we respect the process followed by the National Labor Relations Board, we disagree with the ruling. We don't believe that student-athletes are university employees. The issues raised during the hearings are already being discussed at the national level, and we believe that students should be a part of the conversation."

It was a sentiment shared by all of the big NCAA conferences, including the SEC.

"Notwithstanding today's decision, the SEC does not believe that full time students participating in intercollegiate athletics are employees of the universities they attend," Michael Slive, the SEC commissioner, said in a written statement.

In its endeavor to have the players recognized as essential workers, CAPA likened scholarships to employment pay -- too little pay from its point of view. Northwestern balked at that claim, describing scholarship as grants.

Giving college athletes employee status and allowing them to unionize, critics have argued, could hurt college sports in numerous ways -- including by raising the prospects of strikes by disgruntled players or lockouts by athletic departments.

The NCAA has been under increasing scrutiny over its amateurism rules and is fighting a class-action federal lawsuit by former players seeking a cut of the billions of dollars generated from live broadcasts, memorabilia sales and video games. Other lawsuits allege that the NCAA failed to protect players from debilitating head injuries.

NCAA president Mark Emmert has pushed for a $2,000-per-player stipend to help athletes defray some of their expenses. Critics say that isn't nearly enough, considering that players help bring in millions of dollars to their schools and conferences.

CAPA's specific goals include guaranteeing coverage of sports-related medical expenses for current and former players, ensuring better procedures to reduce head injuries and potentially letting players pursue commercial sponsorships.

For now, the push is to unionize athletes at private schools, such as Northwestern, because the federal labor agency does not have jurisdiction over public universities./excerpt

In a potentially game-changing moment for college athletics, the Chicago district of the National Labor Relations Board ruled on Wednesday that Northwestern football players qualify as employees of the university and can unionize.

NLRB regional director Peter Sung Ohr cited the players' time commitment to their sport and the fact that their scholarships were tied directly to their performance on the field as reasons for granting them union rights.

Ohr wrote in his ruling that the players "fall squarely within the [National Labor Relations] Act's broad definition of 'employee' when one considers the common law definition of 'employee.'"

Ohr ruled that the players can hold a vote on whether they want to be represented by the College Athletes Players Association, which brought the case to the NLRB along with former Wildcats quarterback Kain Colter and the United Steelworkers union.

"The NCAA invented the term student-athlete to prevent the exact ruling that was made today. For 60 years, people have bought into the notion that they are students only. The reality is players are employees, and today's ruling confirms that. The players are one giant step closer to justice."

Northwestern issued a statement shortly after the ruling saying it would appeal to the full NLRB in

Washington, D.C.

"While we respect the NLRB process and the regional director's opinion, we disagree with it," the statement read. "Northwestern believes strongly that our student-athletes are not employees, but students. Unionization and collective bargaining are not the appropriate methods to address the concerns raised by student-athletes."

The Big Ten also disagreed with the ruling and released a statement that read: "While we respect the process followed by the National Labor Relations Board, we disagree with the ruling. We don't believe that student-athletes are university employees. The issues raised during the hearings are already being discussed at the national level, and we believe that students should be a part of the conversation."

It was a sentiment shared by all of the big NCAA conferences, including the SEC.

"Notwithstanding today's decision, the SEC does not believe that full time students participating in intercollegiate athletics are employees of the universities they attend," Michael Slive, the SEC commissioner, said in a written statement.

In its endeavor to have the players recognized as essential workers, CAPA likened scholarships to employment pay -- too little pay from its point of view. Northwestern balked at that claim, describing scholarship as grants.

Giving college athletes employee status and allowing them to unionize, critics have argued, could hurt college sports in numerous ways -- including by raising the prospects of strikes by disgruntled players or lockouts by athletic departments.

The NCAA has been under increasing scrutiny over its amateurism rules and is fighting a class-action federal lawsuit by former players seeking a cut of the billions of dollars generated from live broadcasts, memorabilia sales and video games. Other lawsuits allege that the NCAA failed to protect players from debilitating head injuries.

NCAA president Mark Emmert has pushed for a $2,000-per-player stipend to help athletes defray some of their expenses. Critics say that isn't nearly enough, considering that players help bring in millions of dollars to their schools and conferences.

CAPA's specific goals include guaranteeing coverage of sports-related medical expenses for current and former players, ensuring better procedures to reduce head injuries and potentially letting players pursue commercial sponsorships.

For now, the push is to unionize athletes at private schools, such as Northwestern, because the federal labor agency does not have jurisdiction over public universities./excerpt

It's about time...the schools and the ncaa rake in billions...the kids should get a cut....give them enough to make ends meet when they're at school...it's only fair...

A good move by the NFL would be to pay all the athletes for attending the Combine, going through physical, mental tests and personal interviews. Working out for them at Pro Days on Campus. Afterall, they pay them for flights and dinner when visiting NFL facilities.

This is a disaster in the making and not a resolution/answer to the problem whatsoever.

What needs to happen is a program where some of the revenue is channeled back into to community and college tuition also reduced.

These athletes already get free everything. It's utterly preposterous to pay amateur athletes on top of that when being given a free college education.

I agree the NCAA is a racket and is taking not only students for a ride, taxpayers, customers, etc, but that's absolutely not the answer in any way, shape or form.

The opposite of a problem is never the solution. Communism taught us that.

Russ, most States already do that. For example; if a student -any student- achieves a 3.8 GPA in HS, then they are given free tuition and board for a College education. That is Public Universities and Colleges.

Then when the unions steal their money thru union dues and use it for political donations it won't be so great. What will the union do for them? Will it set aside money for their retirement? Will it have a health plan for them? Will it make them strike cause a right to work state school doesn't want to join? Will it mandate that all college athletes join the union?

Sure these guys should get paid but a Chicago union isn't the answer IMO.

Then when the unions steal their money thru union dues and use it for political donations it won't be so great. What will the union do for them? Will it set aside money for their retirement? Will it have a health plan for them? Will it make them strike cause a right to work state school doesn't want to join? Will it mandate that all college athletes join the union?

Sure these guys should get paid but a Chicago union isn't the answer IMO.

They have to use the threat of unionizing because the pigs at the NCAA are robbing them blind...if a kid has a college jersey with his name on the back for sale at the University Bookstore that kid should get a cut..and all of them should get enough to make ends meet...if that was the case, there'd be no need for a union...the ncaa is just another big business trying to rip off their money producers...it's not right

Then when the unions steal their money thru union dues and use it for political donations it won't be so great. What will the union do for them? Will it set aside money for their retirement? Will it have a health plan for them? Will it make them strike cause a right to work state school doesn't want to join? Will it mandate that all college athletes join the union?

Sure these guys should get paid but a Chicago union isn't the answer IMO.

They have to use the threat of unionizing because the pigs at the NCAA are robbing them blind...if a kid has a college jersey with his name on the back for sale at the University Bookstore that kid should get a cut..and all of them should get enough to make ends meet...if that was the case, there'd be no need for a union...the ncaa is just another big business trying to rip off their money producers...it's not right

I'm with you there but a union will screw mandated would the government screw it up worse? Probably. They can't even do motor vehicles. This is going to be a mess.

Then when the unions steal their money thru union dues and use it for political donations it won't be so great. What will the union do for them? Will it set aside money for their retirement? Will it have a health plan for them? Will it make them strike cause a right to work state school doesn't want to join? Will it mandate that all college athletes join the union?

Sure these guys should get paid but a Chicago union isn't the answer IMO.

Just another avenue for scum bag lawyers, agents and Union bosses (Mob) to get rich.

Another thing is the ruling is already being appealed and could go as far as the U.S. Supreme Court. In short, it could take years before there is a definitive decision. I may be wrong but I don't think the USSC calls witnesses but just rules on legality.

That ruling would then affect all the Universities - Independent or Publicly funded.

I'm with Rusty, where he mentions "it starts by rooting out the crooks in charge of the NCAA". The billions made by the NCAA from ticket sales, TV broadcasts, extra Bowl Games and clothing with Athletes names, where is it all going?

Maybe some States (politicians) will call the Public Universities to thier own State -SJC - and pony up to an audit to finally see where all that money is really spent. The Student Athletes do have a case but a Union as Phil says "but a Chicago union isn't the answer IMO".

This will all take time but something by revelation of an audit is a good start. That would by all means carry over to other Universities as common practice as subjucation reveals some truths. Yikes!?!

Keep up your good work (all) in this 'downtime' until the Draft ......

Then when the unions steal their money thru union dues and use it for political donations it won't be so great. What will the union do for them? Will it set aside money for their retirement? Will it have a health plan for them? Will it make them strike cause a right to work state school doesn't want to join? Will it mandate that all college athletes join the union?

Sure these guys should get paid but a Chicago union isn't the answer IMO.

Just another avenue for scum bag lawyers and Union bosses (Mob) to get rich.

Sadly, that is another problem. All it takes is one trial case won by a Student Athletes failing health to set that in motion, big time.

If you pay the football program you've gotta pay the other sports as well. Then you have to look at smaller schools and what it does to them. It'll shutdown sports programs country wide. It's a problem that doesn't have an easy solution.

If you pay the football program you've gotta pay the other sports as well. Then you have to look at smaller schools and what it does to them. It'll shutdown sports programs country wide. It's a problem that doesn't have an easy solution.

Very true. How long will a Union even last here when the players from the sports that really rake in the $$ realize they have to split the revenues with people on the fencing team? Does everyone get "paid" the same? Will college recruiting become like free agency?